Windows Sucks

[piratePenguin]

I've never setup a printer/scanner before, but I would've thought it'd be install the printer *then* install the scanner (or vica versa). Not like an all in one thing (maybe it is).

If you're using the manufacturer gfx card drivers.. I've never had any problems with them. But I don't use them any more (non-free, plus I don't play games and son't need them).
What gfx card do you have?

Winmodems were designed for Windows (as was most of the other hardware too I suppose).

I have no idea about the backward-compatible thing.

Free manufacturer drivers... I wish.
3dfx used to have open-source drivers, dunno if they were proper(GNU)-free tho.

[piratePenguin]

First thing would be to stop adding fake tags to your post. It's not like the sarcasm was that hard to detect.

If you can't keep windows XP stable, you are doing something wrong. I leave the machine on all the time. I rarely turn it off for the weekend. It has yet to give me any problems. If it is so bad, shouldn't I have blue screened by now? Shouldn't it have locked up a few dozen times already today?

No because your drivers are CLASS!
Blame the drivers when it's unstable. Blame them when it's stable :thumbup:

[xyle_one]

No because your drivers are CLASS!
Blame the drivers when it's unstable. Blame them when it's stable :thumbup:

Blame Windows too?

I am failing to see the problem with Windows. Does anyone have a good reason to not use it. When I am selecting new machines for new employees, why would I not choose windows as the os? Why would I choose Linux? Because it's free? That is hardly a good reason. I happily pay for the upgrades to my software. Money isn't an issue. Stability? Of all the machines at the office right now, one was giving us problems, and that has been resolved. Our office is stable. No problems there. Secure? Yeah, it sure does have problems there. However, we haven't been hacked or compromsied. Our shop is a nice blend of *nix and windows. Everything runs smoothly.

Is it a feeling of moral superiority? You are just "better" because you can get by without giving into the "man"?

[piratePenguin]

Is it a feeling of moral superiority? You are just "better" because you can get by without giving into the "man"?

None of that fucking bullshite.

Anyhow, Windows is going well for you. I've a feeling I'll not be fit to convert you to the rightous side but what the hell.

How about this: You don't give a shit about money. Do you give a shit about where your money goes to? It goes to Microsoft, one big fat ugly monopoly. We all know monopolies are bad, evil fuckers. ESPECIALLY Microsoft.
And it's YOU who's funding them! YOU EVIL-... Let's not go there.
No wonder the evil bastards have been alive for so long, and their still standing strong because of YOU!

Either accept responsability for the evil MS, or stop funding the evil bastards.
That's as low as I can go :thumbup:


* sits and waits...

[KernelPanic]

I rarely turn it off for the weekend.

Off-topic


Is the <2 minutes time you save on Monday morning worse than the environmental effect of you leaving the computer on for 48 hours?
Even if your PC was sucking a modest 20-30 watts, the energy used is not inconsiderable.

[xyle_one]

None of that fucking bullshite.

Anyhow, Windows is going well for you. I've a feeling I'll not be fit to convert you to the rightous side but what the hell.

How about this: You don't give a shit about money. Do you give a shit about where your money goes to? It goes to Microsoft, one big fat ugly monopoly. We all know monopolies are bad, evil fuckers. ESPECIALLY Microsoft.
And it's YOU who's funding them! YOU EVIL-... Let's not go there.
No wonder the evil bastards have been alive for so long, and their still standing strong because of YOU!

Either accept responsability for the evil MS, or stop funding the evil bastards.
That's as low as I can go :thumbup:


* sits and waits...

hehe. Tell me what Microsoft has done that is worse than WalMart, or Nestle? If anything, google is the worst. We are foolishly and blindly being "sold" as a product for thousands of evil greedy businesses. We are googles product. Isn't that of much more concern?

Off-topic


Is the <2 minutes time you save on Monday morning worse than the environmental effect of you leaving the computer on for 48 hours?
Even if your PC was sucking a modest 20-30 watts, the energy used is not inconsiderable.

I'm american, we don't care about shit like that
j/k

Very good point though. Does putting the machine in sleep and turning the monitor not help at least?

[piratePenguin]

hehe. Tell me what Microsoft has done that is worse than WalMart, or Nestle? If anything, google is the worst. We are foolishly and blindly being "sold" as a product for thousands of evil greedy businesses. We are googles product. Isn't that of much more concern?

No. If I had to pay for the search engine, or for Gmail etc. I'd be worried. "evil greedy businesses" PAY Google for a spot on my screen. I promptly ignore that spot. The "evil greedy businesses" only lose, and I get a kick ass search engine, some kick ass email etc.

I dunno anything about Walmart, is it like the South Park episode?
Nestle are evil bastards too. I don't buy much from them. They're not the richest company in the world. They don't have an increadible amount of control.
I'll not lose much sleep over them.

Very good point though. Does putting the machine in sleep and turning the monitor not help at least?

Not enuff.
First you fund Microsoft. Now you're gonna destroy the world.
YOU MAKE ME SICK!
(Don't worry, I'll not use this time)

[Orethrius]

Wow, Penguin pretty much said what I was thinking.

Except:

(Don't worry, I'll not use this time)

...liar...

[piratePenguin]

Wow, Penguin pretty much said what I was thinking.

Except:

...liar...

I noticed you guys are thinking of how wonderful it would be for everyone to switch from Windows to linux, but I fail to see the great benefit - at least from a security perspective.

Are you sure? Because I think you do:

Root permissions you say? Who the heck needs root permissions to set up shop inside a user

[xyle_one]

Hey guys... I'm just pushing buttons.

But, to answer your reply. The learning curve for a user that hasn't used either system would be equal, if not leaning towards Fedora or another simple distro. For a windows user going to Linux, its more difficult. It was for me, but I learned. I do not use Windows at home. I am very much anti-windows, and I have my reasons. I just don't see anyone giving a good excuse for such hatred of a company. I am "free" to install what software is available on any system I use. I am "free" to run any os i deem necessary to accomplish whatever task is at hand. I am not bound to only use Windows because Mr. Gates tells me to. Now, I am not free to modify or see the source of MS software. But that doesn't concern me. I am not a developer, I dont snoop through code, or wish to make those kinds of changes. If the software doesnt work the way I want, I find something else. Most of the time, MS software fails me. Windows failed me. So I don't use it. I have it at work, because I don't care enough to migrate my mail, my settings, my work environment to another system. I am leaving this place in one week anyways.

As for giving employees linux. I am not having them create print and web materials with GIMP. It has never been up to the task. Not that I actually prefer them to use Windows, but it is the best tool at my disposal currently. We are not a mac shop. I will never convince management to invest in Apple machines. Linux will not cut it. Maybe for the techs, and maybe for sales and billing, but not my department. In that sense, we are not "free". We are tied to windows. I just don't see it as being that big of a deal. Not anymore.

[toadlife]

"Removal of infections would be easier since the virus wouldn't have the benefit of root permissions" There's at least one benefit of the masses switching from Windows to GNU/Linux right there. Thanks!

Yes - one small benefit. The problem is the vast majority of people who's machines are "owned" never realize it, so the ease of removal itself becomes irrelevant.

"damage to the internet"? I don't see how that has anything to do with what OS everyone is using.
"the damage to the internet (spam/DoS bots) would be the same."
Umm... I think the hole "dangerous internet" arguement is quite-irelevent. It has nothing to do with OSes AFAIK, and I can't see it being fixed anytime soon.

We're looking at this from different philosophical viewpoints. You hate Microsoft and are on the Free/freedom bandwagon, so the simple act of moving away from Windows, regarless of the real benefits to the world is enough you. The problem of "owned" machines is very relevant to me as am IT professional who is affected by what goes on on the internet. If I thought everyone switching to linux could help solve the problem of spam/DoS bots, then I would be all for it.

Right now, such a system is not necessary. One day it might be. And it will be provided. Free(-of-charge) or otherwise.

Sure it will be provided - it would have to be. But I can assure you, it will not be free.

[piratePenguin]

The learning curve for a user that hasn't used either system would be equal

I wouldn't have thought that because:
Windows is very n00b-friendly. And it's good at being n00b-friendly of all things.
It's much more n00b-friendly than almost all GNU/Linux distros, except the ones targeted at n00bs themselves (and I'd say it'd still be a tough one).
Kudos to MS. For their software is friendly to (the millions of) n00bs.

If the first computer I got had Slackware on it rather than Windows 95, I probably wouldn't have ever bothered with the computer at all. Although if it was Ubuntu (which didn't exist at the time but what the hell), I probably would've used it. And as soon as I knew how to use it, I probably would have learned all about the command-line and then more advanced stuff. And I probably would be on Slackware in no-time.
The leaning-curves are beautiful on GNU/Linux, especially for the curious ones, and also for the not-so-curious ones.

For a windows user going to Linux, its more difficult.

Definetly!
I'd say it wouldn't be too hard for a Slackware user (who has never used Windows before) to migrate to Windows.
Even though they're used to doing things "the hard way", they'd figure the easy way out just as easy as the n00bs would.
Obviously they wouldn't feel at home. For Windows was not developed with them-kinda-people inmind (and yes, I mean it).

I am very much anti-windows, and I have my reasons. I just don't see anyone giving a good excuse for such hatred of a company.

My personal experience with Windows was not pretty.

I do not like MS's software. I do not like MS's evil business practices. I do not like MS's incredible control. I do not like the fucking insane amount of support MS gets (from OEMs, manufacturers, etc.) when there are much better alternatives out there. And I definetly do not like MS's FUD (especially when people buy it).

They are evil bastards who do NOT deserve my support.
And buying their products IS supporting them, just like using their products is.

On the other hand, I fucking love the GNU philosophy.
It is right. It is good. It is honourable. It makes sense.
It is a step forward for mankind.
IT deserves my support, and it deserves more support than the world could possibly supply (and it isn't supplyin', BTW).

I am "free" to install what software is available on any system I use. I am "free" to run any os i deem necessary to accomplish whatever task is at hand. I am not bound to only use Windows because Mr. Gates tells me to. Now, I am not free to modify or see the source of MS software. But that doesn't concern me. I am not a developer, I dont snoop through code, or wish to make those kinds of changes. If the software doesnt work the way I want, I find something else. Most of the time, MS software fails me. Windows failed me. So I don't use it. I have it at work, because I don't care enough to migrate my mail, my settings, my work environment to another system. I am leaving this place in one week anyways.

If that's what you call freedom, seems a little shallow to me. You are damn right to but "free" in quotation marks though.

As for giving employees linux. I am not having them create print and web materials with GIMP. It has never been up to the task.

That's interesting - explain please.

Not that I actually prefer them to use Windows, but it is the best tool at my disposal currently. We are not a mac shop. I will never convince management to invest in Apple machines. Linux will not cut it. Maybe for the techs, and maybe for sales and billing, but not my department. In that sense, we are not "free". We are tied to windows. I just don't see it as being that big of a deal. Not anymore.

How in the hell isn't it a big deal?
Do you have computers on-show kinda thing? Because if you do, you could put Ubuntu or something decent on it, and tell the customers a little about GNU/Linux. Then give them the CHOICE between Windows and Ubuntu. The choice that so many of them never got...

[Jenda]

The freedom IMHO is in the independence from the Empire. You can indeed switch OSes any time you want, and often without even losing your data, but more importantly, you are Free to give your favorite GNU/Linux distro to your friends, install it on any computer that crosses your path and, of course, your toaster.
And then there's the part where you become a member of a community. A community in which people are there to help you, and to recieve your help. The community stands on Free standards, and the people who contribute to the software do so only because they want to (with a few lucky exceptions). Feedback is usually enough of a reward.
I myself am now at the lowest levels of the community, learning, accepting. I am slowly rising, though, and who knows, maybe one day, I'll make my own distro, or fund an OSS project, or just help someone who is having trouble with their computer.

A question rises, though, and that is: will the community hold as strong if GNU/Linux starts dominating the IT world?
I, for one, believe it will.

[piratePenguin]

Yes - one small benefit. The problem is the vast majority of people who's machines are "owned" never realize it, so the ease of removal itself becomes irrelevant.

Wait, isn't this about viruses? If the virus is bad enough, wouldn't it be known to the user?

We're looking at this from different philosophical viewpoints. You hate Microsoft and are on the Free/freedom bandwagon, so the simple act of moving away from Windows, regarless of the real benefits to the world is enough you.

:confused: I hate MS, I hate Windows. I hated Windows before I hated MS. I hated MS before I heard anything about GNU or GNU/Linux.

The problem of "owned" machines is very relevant to me as am IT professional who is affected by what goes on on the internet. If I thought everyone switching to linux could help solve the problem of spam/DoS bots, then I would be all for it.

You said yourself nothing would change.

Sure it will be provided - it would have to be. But I can assure you, it will not be free.

If it's free software that's all I ask. I wouldn't mind paying for the service. And I'd more than likely be paying the makers of whatever distro I use. Perhaps an incentive for me to spend some money on this excellent free software I use all the time.

And, it could be free. You do not know.
If MS fell to GNU/Linux, somebody would be making alot of money. Probably Red Hat or Novell, would come out on top. They'd sell software, and if it was good software (or the best distro for me), and it was free software, I'd buy it. If it wasn't free software, I'd stick to free software.

[mattymanx]

I don't have  any real problems with windows.  Its IE I hate.

Thank God for FireFox!